Tales of Xillia 2
- November 1, 2012
- Bandai Namco Studios
- 18h median play time
Tales of Xillia 2 boasts a constant feeling of progression through the entire game, and though the leveling has a new, and somewhat particular, skill-based development, the complete RPG package can be found within this wholehearted sequel.
"Tales of Xillia 2" is a captivating Role Playing game for 2 players, playable in co-op or single-player mode. The story follows Elle and Ludger on their quest to find the Land of Canaan, aboard a hijacked train, leading to a debt-burdened journey with Clanspia Inc., using Ludger's Kresnik powers to eliminate alternative timelines, while searching for Ludger's missing brother, Julius. Unravel the mystery and enjoy the immersive storyline in this mesmerizing gaming experience.
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Reviews
- The story is engaging and well-structured, avoiding convoluted timelines and providing a satisfying narrative experience.
- The battle system is fun and dynamic, with new mechanics that enhance gameplay while retaining the core elements from the first game.
- The game features beautiful graphics and music, along with a rich cast of characters that fans of the series will appreciate.
- The debt system feels forced and can be frustrating, as it requires grinding to progress and limits story advancement.
- Many environments and assets are reused from the first game, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and lack of creativity in level design.
- The main character's silence and lack of development can detract from the overall experience, making it harder for players to connect with him.
- story67 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Tales of Xillia 2" is generally well-received, praised for its character development and darker themes compared to its predecessor, though some find it convoluted and predictable at times. While the narrative allows for player choices that impact the story, the introduction of a debt system has been criticized for detracting from the overall experience, forcing players into grinding rather than focusing on plot progression. Overall, fans of the series will likely enjoy the continuation of the story and character arcs, but it may not reach the heights of the original "Tales of Xillia."
“Ultimately, though, just like the first game, Tales of Xillia 2's greatest strength lies in its characters, its writing, and its story, all of which return here with a vengeance.”
“I absolutely loved the deep and rich storyline.”
“It's a much darker, more personal story than Tales of Xillia's, yet is equally as poignant, especially in the end.”
“It was very hard for me to get into it at first, as it moved so incredibly slow with the story.”
“One of the particular and annoying features introduced in this game is the debt system, which forces you to pay back a certain amount of money in order to unlock the invisible barriers on the game's story to move ahead.”
“However, there is a major drawback; the game artificially lengthens itself by forcing you to complete jobs unrelated to the story, often just grinding monsters so that you can pay off a massive debt that is totally inconsequential to the story.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Tales of Xillia 2" features refined mechanics and an improved combat system that stays true to the series, offering a blend of new elements and familiar characters. While the introduction of choice mechanics enhances player engagement and relationship-building, some players found the gameplay to become repetitive over time, with a limited party system and a shorter overall playtime compared to previous entries. Despite these drawbacks, the game is still regarded as a worthwhile addition for fans of the franchise.
“The combat system is improved further with the introduction of a few new game mechanics, but they stay true to the combat system of the Tales series and deliver a great story.”
“Overall, the changes in gameplay are small, but feel just significant enough to stay fresh.”
“It exceeded the initial installment of the Xillia series in terms of gameplay, depth of story, etc. It was a perfect blend of a new game with a new story but utilizing aspects and characters of the original.”
“Gameplay got a bit repetitive after a while - after all the character stuff was done, I just rushed toward the end.”
“I haven't played more than an hour, which isn't far, but the beginning of the loan system ruined the gameplay for me, especially after everything that made no sense on the train. I read a lot of reviews on this afterward, and it turns out people barely get 18 hours of gameplay, which is somewhat surprising given the series' history.”
“The gameplay is a little bit repetitive.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, with a significant portion of gameplay dedicated to completing repetitive tasks and monster battles to pay off debts, which detracts from the main story missions. While some appreciate the characters and music, the grind can feel tedious, especially for those familiar with previous entries in the series. Overall, the grindiness is seen as a major drawback, impacting the enjoyment of the game.
“These little story missions drive the whole plot, but they feel like only 20% of the experience, while 80% is spent grinding endlessly and paying back debts.”
“However, there is a major drawback; the game artificially lengthens itself by forcing you to complete jobs unrelated to the story, often just grinding monsters so that you can pay off a massive debt that is totally inconsequential to the story.”
“I usually play Tales games on their hardest difficulty setting, but due to my limited gaming time and the grindy nature of this particular one, I was forced to put it on easy.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their beauty and artistic quality, contributing to an immersive experience alongside engaging character side stories. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals, which enhance the overall enjoyment of the game, making it a standout title on the PS3.
“The music and graphics are pretty beautiful.”
“Xillia 2 is as much fun as the original, and while it may be one of the last titles on the PS3, the creators spun another magical quest filled with amazing art, graphics, characters, and familiar elements.”
“My husband enjoyed the story and the graphics.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in "Tales of Xillia 2" is highly praised for its beauty and quality, with many noting that it enhances the overall experience despite the reuse of assets and areas from the first game. While some players found the gameplay to be grindy, the engaging characters and excellent soundtrack helped to offset this issue.
“The music and graphics are truly beautiful.”
“It was a bit grindy, to be honest, but I loved the characters and the music, which made up for the grindiness.”
“The music in Tales of Xillia 2 is largely recycled from the first game, which can make the experience feel repetitive, even if the original tracks were great.”
“While the music is enjoyable, the heavy reliance on reused tracks from the first game detracts from the overall experience.”
“Running through familiar areas with the same music can lead to a sense of monotony, despite the quality of the original soundtrack.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Tales of Xillia 2 offers a deeply emotional experience that, while challenging, is ultimately rewarding and enhances the game's overall value, making it a worthwhile play despite its flaws.
“It can be a rough ride emotionally, but this is ultimately a very positive quality of Tales of Xillia 2, and it is what makes this game worth playing, despite its numerous weaknesses.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, which is highlighted as one of its key selling points.
“It adds significant replayability to the game, making it one of its largest selling points.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple paths and endings, the game invites players to return and explore different experiences.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report a high level of stability in the game, noting the absence of glitches or technical issues during gameplay.
“I have to say, so far I've found no glitches in this game.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
“I've played for hours without experiencing any stability issues.”
Critic Reviews
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Your Extracted Verdict Here
NaN%Tales of Xillia 2 PS3 Review
Rough around the edges, but a charming sequel nonetheless
78%Tales of Xillia 2 Review
Tales of Xillia 2 features the best combat in the series to date, but the novel approach to plot progression, flat storytelling, and awkward design choices weaken what is otherwise a very fun game.
60%
